Pohang mulhoe restaurant, origin story with squid & flounder: Ppwang

Looking for a mulhoe spot in Duho-dong, Pohang? The first food that comes to mind on a Pohang trip is mulhoe (cold raw fish soup). This time I visited Ppwang Mulhoe (퐝물회), right in front of Yeongildae Beach. You can get fresh Yeongildae squid mulhoe here all year round, so it's popular with tourists and locals alike. If you want a cool meal on your Pohang trip, this is the Duho-dong mulhoe place I'd recommend. :)

Where is Ppwang Mulhoe and how does parking work?

Ppwang Mulhoe sits on the main road along Yeongildae Beach (Haean-ro), so it was really easy to find. There's a private parking lot in front, and if it's full you can use the public Yeongildae Beach parking lot right across the road.

The public lot is only 10–30 seconds on foot from Ppwang Mulhoe, so parking was hardly a worry. For anyone looking for food around Yeongildae, the access is great.

• Parking available in front of the restaurant
• If full, use the public Yeongildae lot across the road

Atmosphere and kid-friendly extras

The restaurant is much bigger than I expected, and the tables are nicely spaced. From the window seats you can see the Yeongildae sea, and there are terrace seats and baby chairs too.

The sea view from the window seats made for a lovely mood, and the terrace seats look perfect on a nice day. There were lots of visitors, from families to travelers.

Baby chairs are available, so it's easy to come with a child. I think that's part of why Ppwang Mulhoe is so steadily loved as a Duho-dong favorite. :)

What's at the Ppwang Mulhoe self-bar?

There's a self-bar, so you can freely grab more side dishes whenever you run out.

With tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), meatballs, quail eggs, sea snails and all kinds of side dishes, it was fun to taste them one by one before the mulhoe arrived.

The sweet tteokbokki at the self-bar especially is something kids would love, so it seems well suited to a family meal.

Where does Pohang mulhoe come from?

They say Pohang mulhoe comes from busy fishermen who wanted an easy meal on the boat, so they put gochujang (red chili paste) seasoning and vegetables on raw fish and poured water over it. Pohang faces the East Sea and is famous for fresh raw fish and seafood, and Pohang mulhoe is now a signature local dish that many people seek out.

At Ppwang Mulhoe, the secret gochujang seasoning with cucumber, pear and green onion gave a cool yet deeply savory mulhoe.

What I ordered at Ppwang Mulhoe

• Squid mulhoe
• Flounder mulhoe

This time I ordered the most popular dishes, the Yeongildae squid mulhoe and the flounder mulhoe. The big bowl was generously filled with squid, assorted vegetables, pear, cucumber, garlic and seaweed flakes, and it made my mouth water just looking at it.

Pouring in the icy broth is the highlight

Once the icy broth goes onto the squid mulhoe, the look is complete. When the secret seasoning met the broth, a sweet-and-sour aroma rose up.

After a good mix, the vegetables and squid soaked up the seasoning evenly and looked even more appetizing. Just like a proper Duho-dong mulhoe place, I was happy from the very first look. :)

How does the Yeongildae squid mulhoe taste?

On the first bite, the squid in the Ppwang Mulhoe squid mulhoe was really chewy and fresh.

Crunchy cucumber and pear came along in each bite for great texture, and the sweet-and-sour taste with just the right kick of spice kept me going back for more.

The squid's signature chewiness went really well with the cold broth.

Add somyeon noodles and rice for the perfect finish

After eating a good part of the squid mulhoe, I added somyeon (thin wheat noodles), and it was a real treat. The well-seasoned noodles slurped down easily and went great with the cold broth.

At the end I mixed in a bowl of rice too, and I finished the whole thing in no time. I think you only really enjoy mulhoe once you've added the rice, haha.

The flounder mulhoe was satisfying too

The flounder mulhoe had a nutty flavor that grew the more I chewed.

The flounder mulhoe has a different charm from the squid one, so ordering both and sharing would be even more satisfying.

Verdict: if you're looking for mulhoe in Duho-dong, Pohang

If you want a cool meal on your Pohang trip, I recommend Ppwang Mulhoe as a Duho-dong mulhoe spot. Fresh seafood, a spacious and pleasant dining room, a varied self-bar and convenient parking all left me satisfied.

If you're looking for a Yeongildae restaurant or can't decide on a place in Duho-dong, it's worth a visit. I especially recommend the Yeongildae squid mulhoe, which you can eat all year round. :)

Recommended for

• Anyone looking for a mulhoe restaurant in Duho-dong, Pohang
• Anyone looking for a restaurant near Yeongildae Beach
• Anyone who wants to try squid mulhoe at a Yeongildae favorite
• Anyone looking for a cool mulhoe place on a Pohang trip